Florence And The Machine heading to Abbey Road for new album sessions

Florence And The Machine are set to begin recording their second album in London's legendary Abbey Road studios.

Work on the follow-up to 2009's 'Lungs' will begin in April or May, guitarist Rob Ackroyd has revealed.

Ackroyd said that the band have already reconvened with producer Paul Epworth for new sessions – he produced several tracks on 'Lungs'.

"Work on the second album has begun with Paul Epworth and there is talk of booking out Abbey Road for a month in April/May to record," Ackroyd told Gibson.com.

Frontwoman Florence Welch is currently in the US, where she will perform at the Oscars on February 27.

Florence Welch writing new album about ghosts and dead relatives

Florence And The Machine's Florence Welch has given details of lyrical subjects of her second album, which she is currently working on.

The singer, who released her debut album 'Lungs' in 2009, said there are songs about ghosts and her dead grandmother amongst other things. ''A lot of the songs on the new album are about imaginary things,'' she told Nylon Magazine. ''Things that you can't touch: ghosts and rumours, my dead grandmother, things visiting you in a dream.''

The singer added that she feels drawn to dark metaphors and even though she was in a stable relationship she felt the album would still deal with lots of issues.

She added: ''It still feels like I'm very much drawn to dark metaphors in the new songs. It always feels like as if with each song you write, you're trying to understand something about yourself: Why am I this way? What's wrong with me?''

Welch continued: ''It feels as if there's still a lot of questioning left to do. Just because I'm happy in my relationship, I've still got issues to deal with. I'm going to be 25 and I feel like I've got to be a grown-up now. I feel like your life is always a battle between safety and freedom.''

Florence and the Machine set for 'heavier' second album

Florence And The Machine's new album is going to be a lot "heavier" than her 2009 debut 'Lungs', according to producer Paul Epworth.

Speaking to BBC 6Music, Epworth, who is working on the album with Florence Welch in London's Abbey Road Studios, also said that the singer's second album would be done by "the end of July".

He said of the way the new album is sounding: "It's going to be more stripped down, but it's heavy, rhymically. It's a much heavier record than the first album."

Epworth added that he believed Welch was moving away from her indie roots into different territories. He said: "It's a lot less indie and lot more soulful."

The producer also indicated that there were 16 songs up for inclusion on the album, but that this would be whittled to fewer than that by the time it comes to be released.

Florence And The Machine: "I love demons and exorcism"

Florence Welch of Florence And The Machine has spoken out about her fascination with exorcism and demons while working on her second studio album.

The singer also told The Daily Star that she would love to see everyone in the studio dress up in shaman's robes while recording.

The singer explained: "Everyone – the whole band – gets dressed for work, puts on their big robe, and comes down to the studio. I love seances, witchcraft, heaven and hell, voodoo, gospel, possession, demons, exorcism and all that stuff. I'm not a religious person. Sex, violence, love, death, are the topics that I'm constantly wrestling with, it's all connected back to religion."

The 'Lungs' star also revealed that she will be working with first album collaborator Isabelle 'Machine' Summers on her follow-up LP.

"I think it's important to work with people who know my process. I find I get a bit nuts if I do it all by myself, I need somebody to bounce off. I'm going to do the writing then we'll record it as a band," said Welch.

She added: "You're constantly looking for a resolution but that never comes. That's why you keep making music. You're looking for an answer but you never get it so you keep making it up."

Paul Epworth, who is producing the new Florence And The Machines album, told BBC6 Music that the record will be "less indie" than their huge-selling 2009 debut.

Producer says there are ‘no weak’ tracks on Florence And The Machine’s second album

Paul Epworth has taken to Twitter to give fans an update on the follow up to Florence And The Machine’s 2009 debut 'Lungs'.

The producer revealed that the songs for the album have all been finished and were currently with the record label, who are picking and choosing which ones they want to include on the album. Epworth explained that they might have a hard time of it, as there are “no weak” tracks. He said:


He added:


In June Epworth spoke to BBC 6Music about the album, which he was working on with Florence Welch in London's Abbey Road Studios.

He said of the way the new album sounds: "It's going to be more stripped down, but it's heavy, rhythmically. It's a much heavier record than the first album."

Epworth added that he believed Welch was moving away from her indie roots into different territories. He said: "It's a lot less indie and lot more soulful."

Dr. Chris Evil finds this thread useless without pics of the redhead

Hear Florence and the Machine's new song 'What The Water Gave Me' – audio

Florence And The Machine have posted the first song to be revealed from their second album 'What The Water Gave Me', scroll down to the bottom of the page and click to hear it.

'What The Water Gave Me' will appear alongside 12 other tracks on the album, which does not yet have a title, but is scheduled to be released in November. It is available now through FlorenceAndTheMachine.net.

The track is named after a painting by Mexican artist Frida Kahlo and has also been part inspired by the death of author Virginia Woolf, who drowned herself in a river by filling her coat pockets with stones.

Speaking to NME about the song, singer Florence Welch said: At lot of the time when I'm writing, things will just appear. I was writing the song and this book on symbolism was lying around, and it had the painting in it. It's nice to mix the ordinary with extraordinary.

Florence Welch: 'I'm still learning how to sing'



Florence And The Machine's Florence Welch has spoken about the recording of her second album and says she believes she is "still learning how to sing."

The singer, who released 'What The Water Gave Me' last week, the first track from the follow-up to her 2009 debut album 'Lungs', has said she has controlled her vocals a lot more on her second LP and "reined in" her singing.

Asked about whether she had been more measured with her use of her voice on her second album, she told Zane Lowe on BBC Radio 1:

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Florence And The Machine will release their as yet untitled second album on November 7. An official single will be released before that date, the title of which is again still be confirmed.

New Album - Release Date Brought Forward
by Florence and the Machine on Tuesday, September 6, 2011 at 10:13am

Flo has been busy at work finishing up her second album and the great news is it has been completed ahead of schedule meaning we can release the record a week earlier!

The album will now be available from October 31 in the UK, if you haven't pre-ordered your copy yet head to Flotique now.

It is available in Deluxe, Standard and LP formats plus every pre-order comes with a free limited edition poster print.

We'll have more news on the album coming very soon.

Florence And The Machine name new album 'Ceremonials'



Florence And The Machine's new album is set to be titled 'Ceremonials' and released on Halloween.

According to a pre-order page for the LP on the iTunes Store, the record has an expected release date of October 31.

The page lists songs such as 'Spectrum', 'Never Let Me Go', 'Breaking Down', 'Lover To Lover' and 'No Light, No Light' as appearing on the album, along with 'What The Water Gave Me', which was recently released online as a taster track.

Singer Florence Welch recently told NME that the album, the follow-up to 2009's 'Lungs', is built around the "big" themes of "love, death, violence and guilt". She commented:


The LP was recorded at London's Abbey Road Studios with producer Paul Epworth, who recently tweeted there were "no weak [tracks]" on the LP. He added that it was "more stripped down" but also "much heavier" than 'Lungs'.

The tracklisting for 'Ceremonials' has now been confirmed as:

'Only If For The Night'
'Shake It Out'
'What The Water Gave Me'
'Never Let Me Go'
'Breaking Down'
'Lover To Lover'
'No Light, No Light'
'Seven Devils'
'Heartlines'
'Spectrum'
'All This And Heaven Too'
'Leave My Body'

Florence and the Machine turned down chance to record ‘Ceremonials’ in LA



Florence Welch of Florence And The Machine has revealed that she turned down the opportunity to record her second album, ‘Ceremonials’, in Los Angeles.

The singer says she was approached by the ‘hottest’ Stateside songwriters and producers, but decided to work in her native London instead. Says Welch:


She continues: "It got put in the diary to go out for a week, to start writing the new record. And then the diary got sent to me and I looked at it and just went, 'No. No. No. No. No! I can't do that. This is too weird. I can't just suddenly leave behind everything that made 'Lungs'."

In the interview with Billboard, Welch also reveals her love for Lady Gaga and Katy Perry.

The 12 track ‘Ceremonials’ was recorded at the iconic Abbey Road Studios with Paul Epworth, who also produced Welch’s debut 2009 album as well as Adele’s ‘21’.

Of the new album’s sonics, Welch said that “It's taken the sound that I found about halfway through making ‘Lungs’ and really gone with it. I think I have taken it to the apex."

Florence and the Machine debut video for 'Shake It Out' – video

Florence And The Machine have debuted the video for their single 'Shake It Out', scroll down to the bottom of the page and click to watch it.

The track is the first to be formally released from the band's new album 'Ceremonials', with another track 'What The Water Gave Me' also available to be heard online.

The video, which has been directed by Dawn Shadforth, who was also behind the camera for Hurts' 'Wonderful Life', Oasis' 'The Importance Of Being Idle' and Kylie Minogue's 'Can't Get You Out Of My Head', features a 1920s style masquerade ball.

Asked about the video, Florence Welch described its look as "a psychedelic 1920s dress party with a demonic twist. Possession meets The Great Gatsby".

'Ceremonials' was recorded at the iconic Abbey Road Studios with Paul Epworth, who also produced Welch’s debut 2009 album as well as some tracks on Adele’s '21'. It will be released on October 31.

Florence And The Machine: ''Shake It Out' is written about a hangover' - video



Video: Florence & The Machine - NME Cover Shoot Interview

Florence And The Machine has revealed that her new single 'Shake It Out' was written about being hung over.

Speaking in the video interview which can be seen above, the singer said that the track became 'the ultimate hangover cure.'

Explaining the creation of the song, she said: "It was a really magic one. I feel weird because I'm always talking about how I'm writing songs when I'm hung over most of the songs weren't but 'Shake It Out' was.

"Like 'Cosmic Love' (it was) written when you're not feeling too great. It became the ultimate hangover cure, and then it became about something bigger. Like trying to get rid of 'hangover ghouls'."

Welch recalled how she reacted when Beyonce cited the singer as an influence on her album '4'.

She said:


She added: "She's sweet, the most gracious and a really beautiful person."